Gold-dredger.



A PATBNTED MAY 5, 1903.

.APPLIOATION FILED JULY 22| 1902.

www

Y i BY l y I' Arrofys'.

thereon by legs 9.

UNrTED A STATES Patented May 5, 1903.

PATENT price.

GO'LD-DREDG ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 727,'2e2, dated May 5,1903.

Application iiledJuly 22,1902. Serial No. 116.537. (No model` Y cause of the great specific gravity of gold as compared with sand and gravelthat is, whilesand and Water are lifted bythe suction the gold will sink into the sand'- bed to a'depth too remote to be lifted or acted upo'n by the suction.

It is the object of my invention, therefore, to provide a simple means for collecting gold with the sand at a point so near the'inlet of the suction-pipe that the gold will beelevated by the suction-draft.

I will describe a golddredger embodying my invention and then point out the vnovel features in the appended claims.

Reference is to be hadto the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this speciiication, in which similar characters of reference indie cate corresponding parts in all the figures..Y

Figure lis a side elevation of agold-dredge'r- Fig. 2 is aplan.

the suction-tube 5 may be changed-that is,

embodying my invention.

view of a form of collecting'device that may be employed,and Fig. 3 is a slight modilication ofthe collecting device.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a crane or arm having a universal-joint connection 2 with a scow or float 3. A boom l4 depends from the crane and is 'vertically adjustable with relation thereto. The suctionpipe 5, extending from a suction-pump 6, has its lower end secured to the boom 4 by means of collars or clips 7.

Attached to the lower end of the boom is a collectingplate 8, and the lower or inlet. end of the suction-tube 5 is located a short distance above said plate and may be supported The plane of the plate is parallel'with the end of the tube and extends in all directions therefrom. It will catch the Vthence back to the scow or float.

'the gold.

material coming from all directions. This plate 8 is provided with radial riftles l0 and cross-riflies ll. This plate forms a bed or receptacle upon which everything must fall and prevents gold and heavy material from falling out of reach of the active area of the suctionintake. The plate also acts as a plow, loosening the gravel as it advances, thus giving the pipe a better chance to raise the material. Attached to the plate is a bail 12, from which a chain 13 extends upward around a roller 14 at theout'er end of the crane and An operating-cable 15 extends from the lower end of the boom 4 to a capstan 16 on the float. By means of the chain13 and the cable 15 it is Vobvious that the parts may be moved to cause the plate or plow to dig into the bank of gravel and sand.

While Ilhave shown the plate as substantially ovate in contour and provided with vriftles, it is to be understood that the plate may be otherwise shaped and the riffles omitted Without departing from the spirit of my invention, the main object of the plate being, as heretofore stated, to resist or prevent the vfalling of gold to a point too remote from the inlet end of the suction-tube.' The rifles,

siderable current they will catchiand hold As indicated in Fig. 3, the arrangement of the booin 17 may be made in the'forrn of a tube the inlet end of which will be secured sufficiently above the collecting-plate and the upper end placed in connection with the suction-pump.

In this invention the plate 8 will practically save all of the gold in the gravel disturbed, because as the draft of the water is toward the suction all the time, and that is the line of least resistance, thegoldcan fall nowhere else but on the plate. A'

Having thus described myV invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentl. In a dredger, a suction-tube and a collecting-plate supported and spaced below the inlet of the tube, the plane of said plate be- IOO ing extended in all directions from the end cent to the inlet of the tube and spaced he- 4low the same, the said plate also by being projected forward and serving as a plow or digging device, substantially as specified.

4. In a gold-dredging machine, a scow or fioat, a crane having swinging connection therewith, a boom supported by the crane, a suction-pump on the scow or float, a suctiontube leading therefrom and having its lower end connected to the boom, a plate connected to the lower end of the boom and spaced from the inlet of the suction-tube, and means for causing movements of the parts,substantiall y as specified.

5. In a gold-dredging machine, the combination with av suction-tube and a suctionpump, of a collecting-plate secured adjacent to the inlet end of the suction-tube, the said plate being of substantially ovate form, and riflies on said plate, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

' OMER F. BARNES.

Witnesses:

JOSEPH B. BARRIoKLow, CALMER H. BARNES. 

